Although the most important part of everyday dental health is brushing properly, you can't do that without a good toothbrush. Insurance company Delta Dental outlines the most important things to consider when choosing your brush so your daily cleanings are most effective. Here are the most important guidelines to follow:

Get a brush with soft bristles. Hard bristles can damage your gums and push back the gum line, making you more sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks.

When deciding between a powered and non-powered toothbrush, choose the one that will motivate you to brush properly. Neither type is better at cleaning your teeth, but most people prefer electric brushes because it allows them to be lazier and still get the job done effectively. (I am one of those people.)

Get a toothbrush with a head about 1" long and ½" wide. Larger brushes can be ineffective. So long as the brush can clean between one and two teeth at a time, you're good to go.

Also, make sure you replace any brush as soon as the bristles start to fray. No matter how good that toothbrush was when you bought it, as soon as it starts to wear down it stops doing its job effectively.